3 Major TikTok Updates on Desktop, Competing with YouTube and Twitch!

TikTok continues to evolve by introducing various innovations to enhance user experience across different platforms. Previously known primarily as a mobile-based application, TikTok is now strengthening its presence on the desktop version with significant updates. These changes not only improve user convenience but also serve as TikTok’s strategy to compete with other video platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

Also read: Instagram Wants to Make Reels a Separate App, Challenging TikTok?

1. TikTok Introduces Floating Player on Desktop

TikTok has made major updates to its desktop version as part of its efforts to compete with YouTube, the American video platform. Several changes appear to follow features already available on YouTube, such as the floating player access in Google Chrome. With this feature, users can continue watching TikTok videos in a small window that stays on top of the screen while performing other tasks, similar to YouTube’s functionality.

Also read: TikTok Becomes the Most Popular and Most Engaged Social Media Platform

2. TikTok’s Competition with YouTube and Twitch in Game Streaming

Additionally, TikTok is also striving to compete with YouTube and Twitch in the game streaming market by introducing a new live-streaming mode. Game streamers can now go live in both portrait and landscape modes. For desktop users, live streams will be displayed in a horizontal format, whereas mobile users have more flexibility as they can rotate their phones to switch to horizontal mode.

Another change includes the relocation of the navigation bar to provide a more immersive and distraction-free viewing experience, similar to using the mobile app.

Also read: Indonesia Surpasses the United States as the Number One TikTok User in the World

3. New Features: Collections and Explore on Desktop

TikTok has also introduced several new features, one of which is Collections, allowing users to organize their favorite videos into specific categories, making it easier to find content they love. Additionally, the Explore feature is now available on the desktop version, enhancing user interaction in discovering new content.

TikTok’s Product Manager, Cody Puckett, stated that these updates aim to bring the mobile TikTok experience to the desktop. He explained that by enhancing desktop capabilities, TikTok seeks to provide a more flexible experience, allowing users to enjoy the platform anytime and anywhere.